Deanna Rosolen

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Brooks, Alta. – XL Foods, the company at the centre of Canada’s largest beef recall, has been acquired by JBS Food Canada Inc., a subsidiary of JBS USA.

The transaction is expected to be complete on Jan. 14

JBS USA took over management of XL Foods’ plant from its previous owners in October, when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency allowed it to reopen.

As part of that agreement, JBS had the option to purchase the Canadian and U.S. operations of XL Foods, reports FoodBusinessNews.com. The plant was shut down because of an E. coli outbreak.

JBS Food Canada will take ownership of the XL Lakeside beef processing plant in Brooks, Alta., as well as additional assets. The Brooks plant has the capacity to process 4,000 head of cattle per day and is one of the largest employers in southern Alberta, says FoodBusinessNews.com.

A statement from JBS SA, the Brazil-based headquarters of the company, says the transaction also includes a beef packing plant in Calgary with a capacity to process 1,000 head of cattle per day, a feedlot in Brooks with a one-time capacity to feed 70,000 head of cattle, and 6,600 acres of adjacent farmland that supports the feedlot operation.

JBS is still considering its option to acquire U.S. operations of XL Foods and is waiting for regulatory review from U.S. authorities, says FoodBusinessNews.com.